Edwaed j



(No Model.)

' `E. J. LE GAY.

SHOE NAIL.

Zamv UNITED STATES- PATENT Orrici:

EDVARD J. LE GAY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

SHOE-NAIL.

PECIFICAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,126, ated August 11, 1885.

Application filed Noyember 15, 1884. (No model.) i

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. LE GAY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Nails, which will, in connection with the accompanying drawings,

be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended-claims.

This invention has for its object certain improvements in nails which are more especially adapted to the purpose of securing the heels in place upon 'the lighter classes of boots and shoes; and it will, in connection with the accompanying drawings, be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In said draWings,Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the heel portion of a shoe, showing my improved nail in position,as when securing the heel in place thereon. Fig. 2 is atransverse section taken as on line Z Z, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on lineX X,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of my improved nail. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken as on line W, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation taken as Viewed from the right in Fig. 4, and showing the short prong or arm as longitudinally divided. Fig. 7 is an inverted or under side plan view of the nail. Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 4, but showing lthe nail as formed with but one arm or prong. Fig. 9 is a view like Fig. 7, but showing' the nail formed as in Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are views like Figs. 2 and 8, but showing the well-known fancy`7 heel as securedin place by my improved nail.

In said views, A is the heel, b is the insole, and c the outer sole.

The nail is shown at D, and is formed with a longer arm or prong, d, and a shorter arm or prong, e, united by a broadened and flattened head, f, which is preferably strengthened by a central rib, g, formed upon the under side of the head, and extending from one prong to the other.

This nail is preferably formed of wire, as it may be made therefrom without heating, and with facility and rapidity; and by forming it with a longer and shorter arm the soles and heel may be secured together much nearer the edge and with greater effectiveness than if both arms were of the same length, as the long arm is inserted far enough from the edge to allow its entire length to penetrate the body of the heel, While the short arm, although much nearer the edge, can yet penetrate the body of the heel sufficiently to confine the sole and heel together at the outer line, and also serving, by holding head f closely to the sole, to prevent fracture of the nail at the juncture of said head with long arm d. By forming hea'd f broad and. flattened, and with a central rib, g, a large bearing upon the insole is obtained, and the head will not tend to discommode the Wearer of the shoe, as the rb is readily bedded in the sole, and yet the head is of sufficient' strength to resist all strain thereon, as it is when'the nail is formed with two arms confinedV at both ends, and hence a thin head will resist great force. By forming prong e divided, asshown in Fig. 6, and tapering the parts upon theA inside, as there shown, the parts will, when driven, diverge, and so obtain a firmer hold on the heel; but in most cases the nail, as shown in the other figures, will resist all normal strain thereon. Where the strain upon the nail is less than usual, the short arm e may be omitted, in which case rib g should be of slightly-increased size and strength, especially near arm d. The points of prongs d e may, as shown in Fig. 4, be formed to incline the prongs inward when being driven. It will be obvious that my nail is especially adapted to thef use illustrated in the drawings, in that it firmly secures the heel iu place, that it does not interfere with the comfort of the wearer, and that, unlike nails't-hat are driven up through the heel into the soles, it will not Work up through the soles as the heel is worn away, to the great discomfort of gc the wearer. i

Any desired number of these nails may be employed to fasten each heel in place, andiin fancy heels it may be advisable to employ nails of different sizes, as shown in Fig. 11.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4-, 10, 11, Iform my nail, when it is to be employed in the manner and for the purpose described, with one arm or prong at an acute and the other at an obtuse angle relatively to head f, in order that said head shall confol'm to the inwardly- 2. A mail formed with two parallel arms, inclined top surface of insole Z). united by an inclned 01' oblique head flat- Io I clam as my inventio11-- tened transversely, substantially as Speeified. 1. A nail formed with two arms and a [Iat- 5 tened and broadened head, and with a sup- EDXVARD J' LE GAY' pol'bing-rb formed lbeneath the head and units- XVtnessesz ing with the arms of theV nm'l, substantially T. NV. PORTER,

as specificd. EUGENE I-IUMPHREY. 

